Maturity beyond her years.........

I had a chat with two young ladies at a high school yesterday.  I was sitting in at the very busy Front Desk for a friend.  One young lady stunned me when she said she went to public school before coming to this private Christian high school and that “I’d be a different person if I had continued in public school.  I know. I was there.”

This young 18 year old had the maturity and introspection enough to realize how getting out of public school helped her become a young woman with values and character.  I was stunned at her perception, her being able to verbalize it like that.  And  I was very touched and moved.

Earlier, about five guys and girls were in the Reception area talking about University High School, not far from my home.   They said it’s the worst school ever, with kids selling marijuana in the back of the classroom and teachers doing nothing about it.  I can’t begin to tell you the awful things these kids said some of those students did to other kids, including putting wax on kids and then feathers.  Tar and feathering in 2014.  No teacher gave a damn.

You all do know that most public schools are similar to that, don’t you.    Racial division, ethnic division, and nobody studying hard because the parents and the teachers don’t really care.  At the Christian high school, there isn’t any of that.  The school is, if I had to guess, 30% Black, 30% Hispanic, 30% White and 10% Asian.   You don’t see the Black kids ‘over there’ and the White kids ‘at the other table,’  EVER.  It doesn’t exist at this school.     They all sit together, they all talk together.  They are treated by administration and the teachers as equals, and so they treat each other as total equals, standing up for each other’s arguments during Socratic seminars, supporting each other in their dance or acting, totally supporting each other at sports.  It doesn’t matter what color, what religion (it’s a Christian high school which has had Muslims and Jewish kids and all love each other), what economic background. Nothing like that matters to them.  And they study. Hard.  Two girls today were standing by me today agreeing that Sartre was a loser and they felt they’d wasted their time reading him at all.   There they went, talking about why he was someone they couldn’t admire, a Christian and a non-Christian girl both agreeing that Sartre felt empty to them.  They knew Sartre well!  At 17 years of age.   The best part was they wanted to discuss him!  Outside class!

 At this school, two Hispanic boys whose parents I’d guess never graduated from high school and certainly didn’t go on to college, and are hard working people who’ve created loving, solid families, are now attending Carnegie-Melon and Case Western on total scholarships.   Arturo and Oswaldo are going to succeed in astonishing ways.   That is what a private school which makes itself affordable to many can do. It's hard for the school;  they could easily take in all rich kids and thrive,  but they don't.  They work at not doing that.

This school is approximately $18,000 a year, but very few pay that.  Located in a very upper class area, they don’t want all White, rich Christian kids.  They want all kids to excel, to build their character and be exposed to excellent values;  and they are.

This girl I spoke of above, Sophia, has been taught enough at the high school to know who she is now, the good she’s received, and that she’d not be the grand girl she is without it.  

Care about your children.  Encourage them.  Celebrate their successes and cry with them for any failures. Make sure their education is not just teaching them to KNOW but to LIVE WELL!  Kids will feel that, they will ‘wear’ that, they will internalize that;  they’ll make a better life for themselves and a far better America.

 z

Koch Brothers attacked again...wait till you see THIS

I guess every Conservative is scared today by what the Left can do to them?  Since I posted on the Kochs yesterday, I saw THIS ARTICLE and wanted to show you even more upsetting facts you should know about.
Here's the title:  Harry Reid’s attacks on Koch brothers send GOP donors into the shadows

Here's the first paragraph..."Yes, the derision of Harry Reid and so many other lefties is causing conservatives not only to rightly fear the IRS and their concentration on Conservatives, but to fear giving money to the Republican party."    Please read the rest of the article linked above and let me now what you think.  Read till the end, it gets more interesting.   Golly, 'fear giving money to the Republican party?"   NOW are you GETTING WHY THE KOCHS ARE BEING ATTACKED SO HARD BY REID AND OTHERS, FOLKS!?  NOW??   But it gets WORSE:

While researching this story, I found out this out!!:

Tonight the Capitol Visitors Center is hosting a screening for an anti-Koch brothers movie, Koch Brothers Exposed: 2014 Edition, by director Robert Greenwald. And both Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are attending the screening, and getting flak for having it at the Capitol in the first place.
Republican congresswoman Candice Miller sent a letter to Pelosi expressing concern that airing the film at the Capitol “may cross the line into partisan politics.” She cites rules saying no presentations in the Capitol Visitors Center “may premiere, preview, showcase, or publicize a film.” A Pelosi spokesperson, however, pointed out that particular room they’re using “is not governed by the rules she cites,” and furthermore, says it’s not a screening, but a “press conference in which clips from the film will be shown.”
And the Pelosi spokesperson used the opportunity to go after Miller and her colleagues for being too beholden to the Kochs, a line also used by Reid when he addressed criticisms today over the screening. Reid, who has been on a very anti-Koch tear as of late, says the outcry over the screening.

My stomach literally hurt when I read this.  "that room isn't governed by the rules?"   A "press conference in which clips from the film will be shown.." ....slamming the Koch Brothers?
ARE THEY KIDDING?     Do you GET THIS, people?   A Ranking Minority Leader and the Head of the Senate, both Democrats, are meeting in OUR CAPITOL to insult people who support Conservatives? 
I don't know what to say anymore, I honestly don't.   I hope you're not out of gas like I am?
Let me now your thoughts.  One thing is I know I am so grateful not to be a Democrat; these stories would HUMILLIATE me for my country.

You know, I have the oddest feeling that I want to go to teenagers and apologize and tell them this country was a fair and powerful one but isn't anymore.  I really feel like that. 


Z
 

New Fox hire....DIVERSITY??

Fox News Hires ‘Clueless’ Actress Stacey Dash

It's official: Fox News Channel is diversifying its ranks.  (Z: "diversifying its ranks HOW?"  Because she's Black..?  I just checked and she's "Barbadian,  African American and Mexican"...whatever the mix, she's gorgeous!   But, what does this writer mean when he emphasizes 'diversity'??   It can't be race... please see my comments below. )

The network has added “Clueless” alum Stacey Dash to its roster, making the actress/activist a contributor, Fox News’ executive vice president of programming Bill Shine said Wednesday.

Dash, an outspoken conservative who's voiced her political views on her Twitter account (including a scathing condemnation of Jay Z and Beyonce for their Cuba visit last year) — will offer cultural analysis and commentary across various daytime and primetime programs.

 

Shine praised Dash, who endorsed Republican candidate Mitt Romney via Twitter in the 2012 presidential election. “Stacey is an engaging conversationalist whose distinctive viewpoints amongst her Hollywood peers have spawned national debates – we're pleased to have her join Fox News,” Shine said.

 

Some comments on Twitter, however, have been less laudatory since the hiring was announced. (Z:  this is the Left, isn't it.  They just can't ABIDE by another point of view!):

“WOW! I used to like you so much. You have proven yourself mentally ill, especially now by joining FAUX News. Pathetic bigot,” one user tweeted at Dash.

Said another, “WOW. Turncoat ass bitch"   (End of article)

Z:  So, you think the title from Yahoo is coincidence?  The "CLUELESS" Stacey Dash hired by FOX?    And, by the way, what does it mean, 'diversifying'?  How?  Is she black?  She's a lovely girl but I can't tell from the picture.  And, isn't it odd they mentioned diversifying when they have Harris Faulkner, Juan Williams, Kelly Wright, Arthel Neville and a couple of others....more than many other channels.   What's the diversity Yahoo's talking about!?

This Stacey Dash sounds great to me.  (P.S., I had a heck of a time finding an image with her clothes on, and she's led quite a 'busy' life :-)   I like her breaking the silly generalizations Leftwingers have about people with Conservative ideals!)   Go, Stacey!  (Guys...have fun Googling "images!" :-)

Z

Charles KOCH....Educate yourselves to what he's about

Charles Koch: I'm Fighting to Restore a Free Society

I have devoted most of my life to understanding the principles that enable people to improve their lives. It is those principles—the principles of a free society—that have shaped my life, my family, our company and America itself.

Unfortunately, the fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law and personal freedom are under attack by the nation's own government. That's why, if we want to restore a free society and create greater well-being and opportunity for all Americans, we have no choice but to fight for those principles. I have been doing so for more than 50 years, primarily through educational efforts. It was only in the past decade that I realized the need to also engage in the political process.

A truly free society is based on a vision of respect for people and what they value. In a truly free society, any business that disrespects its customers will fail, and deserves to do so. The same should be true of any government that disrespects its citizens. The central belief and fatal conceit of the current administration is that you are incapable of running your own life, but those in power are capable of running it for you. This is the essence of big government and collectivism.

More than 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson warned that this could happen. "The natural progress of things," Jefferson wrote, "is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." He knew that no government could possibly run citizens' lives for the better. The more government tries to control, the greater the disaster, as shown by the current health-care debacle. Collectivists (those who stand for government control of the means of production and how people live their lives) promise heaven but deliver hell. For them, the promised end justifies the means.

Instead of encouraging free and open debate, collectivists strive to discredit and intimidate opponents. They engage in character assassination. (I should know, as the almost daily target of their attacks.) This is the approach that Arthur Schopenhauer described in the 19th century, that Saul Alinsky famously advocated in the 20th, and that so many despots have infamously practiced. Such tactics are the antithesis of what is required for a free society—and a telltale sign that the collectivists do not have good answers.

Rather than try to understand my vision for a free society or accurately report the facts about Koch Industries, our critics would have you believe we're "un-American" and trying to "rig the system," that we're against "environmental protection" or eager to "end workplace safety standards." These falsehoods remind me of the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan's observation, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts." Here are some facts about my philosophy and our company:

Koch companies employ 60,000 Americans, who make many thousands of products that Americans want and need. According to government figures, our employees and the 143,000 additional American jobs they support generate nearly $11.7 billion in compensation and benefits. About one-third of our U.S.-based employees are union members.

Koch employees have earned well over 700 awards for environmental, health and safety excellence since 2009, many of them from the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. EPA officials have commended us for our "commitment to a cleaner environment" and called us "a model for other companies."

Our refineries have consistently ranked among the best in the nation for low per-barrel emissions. In 2012, our Total Case Incident Rate (an important safety measure) was 67% better than a Bureau of Labor Statistics average for peer industries. Even so, we have never rested on our laurels. We believe there is always room for innovation and improvement.

Far from trying to rig the system, I have spent decades opposing cronyism and all political favors, including mandates, subsidies and protective tariffs—even when we benefit from them. I believe that cronyism is nothing more than welfare for the rich and powerful, and should be abolished.

Koch Industries was the only major producer in the ethanol industry to argue for the demise of the ethanol tax credit in 2011. That government handout (which cost taxpayers billions) needlessly drove up food and fuel prices as well as other costs for consumers—many of whom were poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Now the mandate needs to go, so that consumers and the marketplace are the ones who decide the future of ethanol.

Instead of fostering a system that enables people to help themselves, America is now saddled with a system that destroys value, raises costs, hinders innovation and relegates millions of citizens to a life of poverty, dependency and hopelessness. This is what happens when elected officials believe that people's lives are better run by politicians and regulators than by the people themselves. Those in power fail to see that more government means less liberty, and liberty is the essence of what it means to be American. Love of liberty is the American ideal.

If more businesses (and elected officials) were to embrace a vision of creating real value for people in a principled way, our nation would be far better off—not just today, but for generations to come. I'm dedicated to fighting for that vision. I'm convinced most Americans believe it's worth fighting for, too.  (end of piece)

 

Please, if we could only illuminate more truths about Conservatives, it might help?

Z

Can ANY party survive this? Ever? Can our country?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican strategy for the fall elections seemed set: hammer Democrats on the health care law and "jobs, jobs, jobs."

As Democrats show increasing confidence on those fronts, however, House Republicans are gambling that ramping up new inquiries into old controversies involving the Internal Revenue Service and Libya will energize conservative voters without turning off moderates.

 

Over Democrats' heated objections, House Republicans voted this month to hold an IRS official in contempt for refusing to testify. They also launched a new investigation into the September 2012 terrorist attack on a diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, which killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.
Democrats say the moves reek of political opportunism and desperation.

Criticizing the president's health care law "has run its course," said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, and Republicans "have to find something else to talk about." She called the new Benghazi inquiry a "political stunt." (Z:  Nancy, just wait till people start getting sick, then let's see how criticism has 'run its course')

Republicans say their actions are serious and justified, even if they also might be good politics. (Z: Oops...did the Republicans say that or the author added that second half? :-)

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the select committee on Benghazi will not be partisan or involve political "sideshows." But he declined to tell Republicans to stop using the Benghazi tragedy to raise campaign money.  (Z:  Have Democrats ever had to tell people to stop 'using' any story that would promote their success?)

Republicans acknowledge the hearings could backfire if their select committee members appear overly zealous.

"There's a real burden on us," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. "We need to not overreach" and simply "figure out what the truth is." He predicted the select committee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., will "lean over backward to be fair."

Democrats spend little time defending the Obama administration's role in Benghazi or the IRS' actions in scrutinizing conservative groups that sought tax-exempt status. Instead, they cite the multiple hearings and inquiries already conducted into the matters, which were fading from national headlines except on outlets such as Fox News.  (Z:  Finally, some truth.  Yes, looks like the Democrats are using this politically even more than the Republicans.  They don't want these stories scrutinized and they'll blame Republicans for looking into them.  unreal)

An inspector general's report blamed poor management in an IRS office that gave special scrutiny to conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. But it found no evidence of political conspiracy.  (Z: Oops!  Someone hasn't read all the IRS emails, has he).

The division's director, Lois Lerner, infuriated Republicans a year ago by proclaiming her innocence at a House Oversight Committee hearing and then declining to answer questions, citing her constitutional right against self-incrimination. In a mostly party-line vote, the House voted May 7 to hold Lerner in contempt. It wants a U.S. attorney to take steps to force her to testify. (Z: Yes, testify and show America the Republicans are WRONG. GO ahead, Ms Lerner; why not?)

As for Benghazi, at least half a dozen inquiries have probed the terrorist assault of Sept. 11, 2012, generating more than 25,000 pages of documents. Main questions include: Did the Obama administration do enough to get military relief to those under attack? And did it try to mislead Americans about the attack's origins to protect President Barack Obama's record on terrorism with two months left in his re-election campaign?

Opinions mostly fall along partisan lines, although some Republicans express more outrage than others. House Armed Services Chairman Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., said the military did what it reasonably could.  (Z:  WRONG.  Most polls say Americans feel Obama and Hillary are lying about this.)

The attack's origins were murky at first. At the time, Egyptians were rioting over an amateur American-made video mocking Islam's prophet Mohammad.
Then-U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice cited Islamic outrage over the video when she appeared on talk shows the Sunday after the Benghazi attack. Administration officials later said the assault was a calculated terrorist action, not a direct response to the video.
House Republicans have seized on a recently divulged White House "talking points" memo written to help Rice prepare for her TV appearances. The memo said one goal was "to underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video and not a broader failure of policy" by the administration.
Republicans say the White House deliberately hid the memo from investigators.   (Z:  Well, they didn't present the email, soo...  by the way, what about those "talking points" and their motivation?  It was pretty clear.)
Many Democrats say congressional Republicans want to injure Hillary Rodham Clinton, a possible 2016 presidential candidate, who was secretary of state during the Benghazi tragedy.

Several GOP political strategists said revived inquiries into Benghazi and the IRS will probably do their party more good than harm, provided their lawmakers appear more professional than partisan.

Undecided voters might not get excited about GOP accusations regarding the IRS and Benghazi, said Dan Schnur, a former Republican consultant who teaches political science at the University of Southern California. But given the administration's questionable behavior in both areas, he said, "They certainly don't line up on the other side."

GOP strategist Terry Holt agrees. The Benghazi assault, he said, was "the phone call Hillary Clinton warned us about in 2008 when she was running against Obama. They both blew it."

Democrats are banking on public revulsion.

"To make use politically and financially of the tragedy of the loss of four great Americans is beneath contempt," said Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y.  (END OF ARTICLE)   (Z: and, you know, Ms Slaughter?    Protecting your White House is REALLY "beneath contempt" at the cost of four Americans.)

SO, you see, America.  NOTHING the Republicans can do OR SAY is legitimate, according to the Democrats/this author.  Get it?   NOTHING.  

How does this country survive with the misinformation and mischaracterizations in this article and others?   We know by now about Ben Rhodes' delayed emails which finally came out and need review!  We know Lois Lerner isn't the only one involved in emails that finally were forced to come out!   We know CBS's News Department, which I believe hasn't mentioned Benghazi in the last many months and never ran the Ben Rhodes emails!, is run by Ben Rhodes' brother.  ABC and CNN have White House connections that are startling, too.    How about this author mentioning that?

How DO we get to the bottom of situations like those above, which NEED getting to the bottom of since, in the time since earlier hearings, more evidence has shown up?   Just bow to the Democrats and go away?

WOW.   What can we do about articles like this?   This piece wasn't in a liberal rag that runs all this kind of stuff, it's a Yahoo HEADLINE.    And the author has the NERVE to mention FOX above!?  REALLY?
Z

Memorial Day

Thank a soldier.   They deserve everything we have.
A good Memorial Day to you, particularly to MY soldiers here at GeeeZ;  I'm so proud of you ALL.
And glad you came back.  So many didn't:

I think of all the women in America during the wars without email, where they'd not know about their husband or brother or son for months!   And the parents who raised such a wonderful son only to get a soldier walking up the front walk to ring their doorbell, or get a telegram..."We regret to inform you..."     I don't know how they live through it.  But, today's the day we remember the soldiers AND their families.

Z

xxx

Sunday Faith Blog...a wedding and a video that ROCKS!

Two young people married last night.  I had the honor and pleasure of seeing it happen.
The bride wore white and deserved to wear white, considering the true purity it means.
She's absolutely lovely and he's a very handsome young man.  She's tiny, he's very tall. 
And they seem made for each other.

It chokes me up at weddings where I know the young couple has waited till their wedding night.  It's just so good and sweet and pure.   There's such joy and glory; physical love worth the wait and this choice is an honored one by many. 

I didn't expect to cry at the wedding, which I'm known to do, because I hadn't met the groom and barely know the bride, but their vows got to me.  In his vows, he promised her to keep Christ as the center of their home, to remember God in decision making.  He talked of making her his Queen and his partner, best friend, and that he'd remain faithful to her. He brushed back tears as he looked down at his new bride with such love.  She vowed to put him second, after God, and before herself, in everything.

Their parents are all still married, very happily.  The new marrieds have been raised in church and active in their churches across the country from each other.  They met at college in Wisconsin and have this great, true, wonderful love for God in common and that knit them together and kept them safe in so many ways. Tonight, they celebrated their love and hosted 100 friends to a beautiful night of dinner and dancing.

Please pray for this young couple;  I'll refer to them as D&S.   Their parents have prayed for good spouses for their children all their lives.  It paid off.    What a different type of wedding than so many.  I write this post about this wedding because it feels so promising when this couple has faith in common.
    
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."  I John 4:7.

My buddy Chanel was at the wedding.........watch till the end......so good.  She ROCKS.   "He'll see you through, if you believe........"


Z

CNN and FOX......wow

I've been watching more TV this morning than usual.   I've been watching FOX and CNN.

CNN:  Shootings in Isla Vista, California

FOX:   Interviewing two senators who are in Ukraine to observe the elections (which I think is, frankly, insulting to Ukrainians, but what the heck...)

CNN:   Shootings in Isla Vista, California

FOX:   Review of latest VA findings and conversations about the best way out  of the mess; with some worthwhile ideas

CNN:  Shootings in Isla Vista, California

FOX:   Marine stuck in Mexico with nothing happening to get him OUT

CNN:  Shootings in Isla Vista, California

FOX:   Memorial Day observances

CNN:  Shootings in Isla Vista, California

Three weeks ago, it was CNN:  Malaysian Air Disaster,  FOX:  whatever news was happening at the time you turned the TV on.

Is it CNN avoiding the fact that little's been done to fix the VA for lo, these many years, particularly since Obama was informed when he came into office and promised to clean things up?
Is it CNN avoiding the fact that a Marine hasn't been quickly got out of Mexico, particularly since many Mexican officials themselves want him out?
Is it CNN avoiding talking about Ukraine because there haven't been strong enough sanctions to help Ukraine from Putin?  ....or maybe because Isla Vista's 'GUNman' is a better story? 

Wassup, folks?

Z

CISSEXISM? PG warning.....by James Taranto

Parental Guidance Requested

College students want warning labels on literature.                 

Reading can be dangerous, some young people seem to believe.

"Colleges across the country this spring have been wrestling with student requests for what are known as 'trigger warnings,' explicit alerts that the material they are about to read or see in a classroom might upset them or, as some students assert, cause symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of rape or in war veterans," the New York Times reports.

The Times notes that the warnings "have their ideological roots in feminist thought." At first glance this looks like just the latest politically correct excess, but it's distinct in some ways. For one, the faculty is resisting: "The debate has left many academics fuming, saying that professors should be trusted to use common sense and that being provocative is part of their mandate." Lisa Hajjar, a sociology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, tells the paper: "Any kind of blanket trigger policy is inimical to academic freedom. . . . The presumption . . . that students should not be forced to deal with something that makes them uncomfortable is absurd or even dangerous."  (Z:  Bravo, Lisa)

 

Students have demanded trigger warnings at Oberlin College, Rutgers University, the University of Michigan and George Washington University as well as UCSB. The Times reproduces an excerpt from an Oberlin "draft guide," which reads: "Triggers are not only relevant to sexual misconduct, but also to anything that might cause trauma. Be aware of racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism, and other Issues of privilege and oppression. Realize that all forms of violence are traumatic, and that your students have lives before and outside your classroom, experiences you may not expect or understand." ("Cissexism" refers to prejudice in favor of men and women who identify themselves, respectively, as men and women.)  (Z;  WHAT?)

 

In a recent piece for The New Republic, Jenny Jarvie writes that "some consider [trigger warnings] an irksome tic of the blogosphere's most hypersensitive fringes." They started "in self-help and feminist forums to help readers who might have post traumatic stress disorder to avoid graphic content that might cause painful memories, flashbacks, or panic attacks." They've "been applied to topics as diverse as sex, pregnancy, addiction, bullying, suicide, sizeism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, slut shaming, victim-blaming, alcohol, blood, insects, small holes, and animals in wigs. . . . Even The New Republic"--actually a TNR writer named Molly Redden--"has suggested the satirical news site, The Onion, carry trigger warnings."  (Z: 'slut shaming?'  what, we don't want to shame sluts?)

 

But trigger warnings have come in for criticism and mockery even on the left. Jarvie concludes her piece with this sensible observation: "Bending the world to accommodate our personal frailties does not help us overcome them." She reports that the feminist website Jezebel, "which does not issue trigger warnings, raised hackles in August by using the term as a headline joke: 'It's Time To Talk About Bug Infestations [TRIGGER WARNING].' " And Susannah Breslin provoked outrage in 2010 when she "wrote in True/Slant that feminists were applying the term 'like a Southern cook applies Pam cooking spray to an overused nonstick frying pan.' "

 

The Times reports that targets of campus trigger-warning demands include F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" (for "a variety of scenes that reference gory, abusive and misogynistic violence"), Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" (anti-Semitism) and Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway" (suicide).

Here's what this reminds us of: "Rated R for strong sexual content, language, nudity, drug use and violence throughout." That's the Motion Picture Association of America's warning for the 2012 film "Spring Breakers." Or how about this: "Rating Category: M. Content Descriptors: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence." That's the Entertainment Software Rating Board's evaluation of "South Park: The Stick of Truth," which the ESRB helpfully explains "is a role-playing adventure game based on the animated South Park TV show."

There are similar rating systems for television programs (the TV Parental Guidelines) and popular music (the Recording Industry Association of America's Parental Advisory Label, or 'Pal,' program). (This column, published as it is by a family newspaper, will occasionally include a warning when linking to an external website that contains family-unfriendly content.)

The MPAA, ESRB, TV Parental Guidelines and RIAA warnings are all designed to strike a balance between freedom of expression and parents' interest in shielding their children from the fouler aspects of popular culture. For the most part free expression wins out, especially in the Internet age, as it generally requires enormous effort to prevent a determined adolescent from gaining access to "adult" material. And the law isn't of much help: In Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011), the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law restricting the sale or rental of "violent video games" to minors.

           

Still, efforts at establishing such warning systems have occasioned free-speech controversies, most notably in 1985 when the Parents Music Resource Center, led by Tipper Gore, called for warning labels on record albums with explicit lyrics. It was a bipartisan effort--Gore, a Democrat, was joined by Susan Baker, wife of then-Secretary of State James Baker--but it drew wide derision from pop musicians and the left. In 1992, the Associated Press reported, vice presidential candidate Al Gore "fielded questions from an MTV audience" of college students about his wife's efforts and was put on the defensive: "He said neither he nor she supported censorship."

In those days, "mature" content held a certain allure for teenagers and young adults. By contrast, it would seem that today's young adults are anxious to be infantilized.  (END OF ARTICLE)

 

So, even some professors  find this ridiculous....happy days!   GOOD THINKING!

But, really?  Kids are afraid of triggers related to the points above in literature but don't mind watching Miley Cyrus or some of the music videos that we know are out there?  Or  how about the many really violent films full of gratuitous and sometimes violent sex and murder, too?  Is it only in the classics in literature they're offended?  

What do you think.... How can we have a strong country with kids who need TRIGGERS in literature?  This is not that widespread, I'm sure, but add this to incidents like not allowing pictures to be taken with camels on HUMP DAY (Wednesday) because it might insult muslims, etc etc.........(by the way, why would it be considered RACIST against Arabs?  Why not interpret it as celebrating Arabs with camels? :-)......are we REAL anymore?
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." Ray Bradbury.

Thoughts?
Z

Gitmo.....or the VA?

Guantanamo detainees are treated better than our VETS?
Check THIS OUT.   

Z

Vets or Furniture ... got a preference?

Stabbing Veterans in the Back

A little over a week ago, we noted an article by Mary Lou Byrd that told us that Obama’s IRS has expended nearly $100 million on office furniture. Most of the 54 commenters seemed to wonder why, at a time when the nation is suffering economically,  the government would spend so much money on office furniture. At the time the post went up, I wondered if the additional money was necessary in order to provide office furnishings for the more than 1,600 new IRS employees, whose task it will be to locate and punish anyone who’s declined participating in Obama Care (unless they’re a registered Democrat or member of Congress, of course).

Well, Ms. Bryd has uncovered even more information about Obama administration spending. At a time when the Veterans’ Administration is killing off World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans (presumably so they’ll keep their mouth shut about wait times at VA hospitals and clinics), at a time when Eric Shinseki is “damn mad” about the lack of care for entitled veterans, at a time when the President of the Untied States is just finding out about this from the New York Times and Huffington Post, we learn that the VA has expended $500 million on new office furniture.

Well, so at least now we know what this administration’s spending priorities are. Screw America, and screw America’s veterans. 

Article here

-Mustang and Z

Ben Carson. We need a million like him

Amazing.  SMART, sensible, caring, patriotic.  Concerned.
And, by the way, who IS that other Black guy who I admire so much from what he asked?
(Don't sell yourself short; the interview's not long and it gets better and better).
Would you vote for him, you "racist conservatives?" (smile)  I WOULD.

(imagine the White House calling to tell the organizers of the National Prayer Breakfast where Carson spoke in front of Obama that they feel Obama deserves an apology from Carson and Obama is waiting for his call for Carson's having said he didn't like the ACA?   um.  Carson said he found Obama cordial and he did not call the White House and apologize for ANYTHING, bless him)

Z

O'Reilly on RACE....a must-see

I have received THIS VIDEO via email quite a few times.  I finally watched it and felt it should be watched here.    It's only a few minutes long and Bill O'Reilly hits Black America HARD and with caring and truth.

I hope you watch it all the way through...........we need a message like his coming from the bully pulpit of the White House, where I believe a young half-Black president and his wife have lost a great opportunity to talk to kids all over this country.  They're beloved mostly for their color by many Americans who would definitely listen if they would only talk like O'Reilly is;  they use color to remind Americans how racist we are;  they divide and hurt.  Why not use their color for GOOD?   It breaks my heart that they still haven't, to tell you the truth.

Please watch...............and let us know what you think.

Thanks.

Z

Historical Trivia....fun

Did you know the saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise" was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water? It was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. He was a politician and Indian diplomat. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the
U.S. to return to Washington. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Because he capitalized the word "Creek" it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water.

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In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.' (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)

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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term big wig... ' Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

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In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'
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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement.. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.' Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a smile'. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . .. . Therefore, the expression losing face.'

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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace..

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Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades...' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck..'
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Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some Ale and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'

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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase minding your 'P's and Q's'.
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I hope you enjoy these things as much as I do! 

Have a great Week...
Z

Sunday Faith Blog

Sometimes we of great faith have great doubts.  I have just read a book I highly recommend and will probably keep it and read parts of it again and again. 

This book is EVIDENCE NOT SEEN, about Darlene Diebler Rose, who was a missionary in New Guinea just before World War II and who saw terrible times when the war hit their island.    POW for four years of one bowl of rice full of worms for lunch.   You can buy a copy at the link under the title above, and there are used copies for $2.64 plus S&H.   It has a 5-star rating at Amazon.

This book is literally full of miracles and God's promises in spite of truly grueling experiences, and the deepest faith I've maybe ever encountered.

Darlene Diebler Rose is a woman you won't soon forget when you read this amazing book.  I hope you decide to be thoroughly blessed by reading it.

"“Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:27

Have a great Sunday.........buy the book!

Z

Don't kill this young woman!!

I'm hoping that Mrs. Obama tweets with a sign that says "Bring back OUR girl" in response to a Christian girl being hanged for standing by her belief of faith in Jesus Christ  ....think she will?

Yes, Mrs. Obama...I'm hoping you and your husband do something to save this Christian girl, pregnant and refusing to turn her back on her faith.    She was raised Christian but the court in Sudan considers her Muslim.   She could be hanged.

Mrs. Obama...................are you there?

Z

A German just left here...

...Eike is moving back to Germany from L.A.  He loves it here and hates to go back but he's with BMW, does major (really fascinating to me, since I love BMW) design work, and they want him transferring back.   He's a friend of my stepson and came in for a while before they both took off this afternoon.  He tells me he went to Moorpark College, a small JC, I believe, for some classes while at BMW.   

Eike said "I was really surprised at the way the professors hated America here.  We aren't patriotic in Germany at all, but I don't hear the kinds of things there I heard here in classes.  The younger professors really taught us not to admire anything of America.  Why?"

"Why?"

Why, indeed.

Hot off the press....20 minutes ago in my living room.   I feel empty.
Z

Complain..............

Have at it.

What's bugging you THE MOST these days?

Z

IRS and Carl Levin.....HE's involved, too.

So, it's coming out now that Senator Carl Levin pressured the IRS to target Conservative groups.

HERE  is an article you'll want to read.  I tried to find a New York Times article admitting this, but no go.  Perhaps by Thursday morning, they'll surely have written on it, right? (I'm writing this Wednesday evening).  Let's hope.

Ya, it's going up to Washington, this purge on Conservative groups and their tax standings.

Imagine if this was a Republican administration doing this at the IRS?  Think the New York Times just might be covering it NOW? 

What do we DO?   Where's it end?  When did America become a country where the Left pushes free speech out of the college graduation, off television, out of college lectures, out of the classroom......what happened, and how did it happen so fast?

Will Levin suffer like any Republican senator would?  (ya, right)

Help me out here.

Z

Societal Underclass

What is your definition of an UNDERCLASS in a society/a country? (and I don't mean a Bachelor's versus a Doctorate :-))

Can we ever overcome an UNDERCLASS or will there always be one?

What would have to happen to rid a country, no matter how large or small, of it's UNDERCLASS?

I'm curious about your responses.

Thanks!

Z

IRS SPENDING...WHAT?

Obama’s IRS Spends Nearly $100 Million on Office Furniture

 

BY: Mary Lou Byrd
The IRS has spent $96.5 million on office furniture under the Obama administration and is now claiming it has insufficient funding to adequately serve taxpayers.
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew testified before the House two weeks ago about the IRS’ need for additional funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The IRS is currently seeking an increase of $1.2 billion—a 7 percent raise over its FY 2014 $11.29 billion budget. It would bring the agency’s FY 2015 budget to $12.48 billion.
A review of contracts by the Washington Free Beacon shows the IRS in the past five fiscal years has spent $96.5 million refurbishing IRS offices across the country. Those contracts include fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
That amount already exceeds what the agency spent during the entire eight years under President George W. Bush, fiscal years 2002 through 2009.
The purchases during the current administration show contracts are for various amounts. They range from several millions to hundreds of thousands of dollars for each agency office.
The first fiscal year budget for which President Obama was responsible was FY 2010 and it was a banner year—when the agency spent the most on new furniture. Records show $44.4 million was spent that year.
The Free Beacon found in a total of 3,777 contracts he IRS has purchased various types of furniture. The contracts include new chairs, showcases, partitions and shelving, and wood furniture.
A sampling from the volume of contracts includes the agency’s Lowell, Mass., office, which spent $5.04 million on showcases, partitions and shelving. The contract was signed in 2012 was completed on April 30, 2013.
The Philadelphia IRS office spent $2.8 million for “furniture systems.”  That contract was signed in 2011 and the work was completed in 2012.
Other IRS offices also had multi-million dollar makeovers.  A contract in 2011 shows the “purchase of systems furniture” in the amount of $2.67 million for the Colorado office. The Washington, D.C., office received $2.6 million in “new system furniture/service” and the work was completed in 2012.
Still another contract shows the Iowa office had a $1.08 million makeover. The contract did not detail the type of furniture purchased.
Michigan, which has six IRS offices, has spent the most on furniture of all the states during this time frame.  Its contracts include $1.57 million in taxpayer funds spent for its Leeward office, and another $1.36 million on its Zeeland office.
While it is unclear what type of furniture was purchased for the IRS office in Jasper, Ind., records show two large purchases were completed just four months apart. One contract for $689,719 was completed in November 2010.  Another contract for $805,515 was completed in March 2011.
Contracts also revealed that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent solely on chairs for the IRS’ office in Haverhill, Mass. The contract shows $618,881 was spent on “Task Chairs Phase II.” That work was completed on Dec. 31, 2012. Due to the volume of contracts, the Free Beacon could not find the amount spent for Phase I of the task chairs project or if there were any additional phases after this second one.
Another contract shows the agency’s offices in Seattle and Austin received over $1.1 million in new furniture. One contract for $810,200 and another for $327,908 were both completed in February 2013.
The top three prime award contractors were Knoll, Herman Miller, and Haworth International. While some records did not give detailed information on the types of furniture purchased, the high-end retailers’ websites do give taxpayers a sampling of their products and costs.
Herman Miller has chairs that cost $1,209, and storage units that cost $1,749. Knoll’s chairs retail for $659. Another company awarded several contracts claims on its website it partners with “best interior products manufacturers” in the industry.
In his testimony, Lew said, “The IRS continues its commitment to carrying out its responsibilities, providing quality service to taxpayers and preserving the public’s faith in our tax system, but the lack of sufficient funding in recent years has made it difficult to provide the kind of services American taxpayers deserve.”  (article end)

Z:  Let me start by say I know A LOT about office furniture because I had a business of high end commercial design for many years.  This article didn't ring any bells with me because, while I thought spending any money on office furniture in the economic mess America's in right now was just plain stupid, the article doesn't say how much the stuff was needed nor does it say how many chairs or panel systems, just big numbers.  SO, it wasn't till I got to the magic words HERMAN MILLER and KNOLL that I flipped out.   They are two of THE highest end companies in the commercial design field.   Ever.   Gorgeous, absolutely the best, and very well made.   But could we have bought our IRS rear ends chairs for $700 that were just as good?  Heck, yes.    Even less, but I don't want to sound too cheap and chairs where people sit all day need to be good chairs.  Not $1200.  Nor do 'storage units' have to cost $1749.  Not even close, though the article says nothing about how big the unit is.

During every single recession, the interior design/furniture manufacturing businesses suffer.  Big time.  But not if it's government work! :-)??

WHAT?
Z

Monday at Mustang's

Mustang has a troubling, interesting article at HIS BLOG about Black America.   Please check it out.
Comment here or there;  I'm curious as to your thoughts.  It's a tough one. 
I know so many people different than the article, and so this is more fascinating than it might be.

Have a great Monday,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, J!!    I love you!

Z

Sunday Faith Blog..the Supreme Court and prayer

I was surprised to read THIS and hope you chime in.

By Robert Barnes,                 
 

A divided Supreme Court ruled Monday that legislative bodies such as city councils can begin their meetings with prayer, even if it plainly favors a specific religion.

Christian prayers said before meetings of an Upstate New York town council did not violate the constitutional prohibition against government establishment of religion; the justices cited history and tradition.
    The court ruled 5 to 4 that
“Ceremonial prayer is but a recognition that, since this Nation was founded and until the present day, many Americans deem that their own existence must be understood by precepts far beyond the authority of government,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the court’s conservative majority.
The ruling reflected a Supreme Court that has become more lenient on how government may accommodate religion in civic life without crossing the line into an endorsement of a particular faith.

All nine justices endorsed the concept of legislative prayer, with the four dissenters agreeing that the public forum “need not become a religion-free zone,” in the words of Justice Elena Kagan.
But there was sharp disagreement after that, and the majority ruling could encourage public bodies to give more leeway to religious expression in their ceremonial prayers and less deference to the objections of religious minorities."   There is more in my link above.

What do you think?  Surprised?   I am.

Also, I believe with all my heart that our country was founded by God and that he honors a country which honors His Son in the public arena.  But, I question the decision to favor a 'specific religion' in public places.

Please help me decide one way or the other.  I'd really like to hear both sides of this coin.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith..."  Hebrews 12

God bless you this beautiful Sunday!

Z

A Democrat and Benghazi

The White House asked for this investigation by not telling the truth in the first place.....by Democrat Consultant, Kirsten Powers:

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C.,center, joins Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, right,

 

"Diversion, subterfuge, Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi. ...Why aren't we talking about something else?" House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi complained last week.
Here's why: An e-mail has surfaced from a deputy national security adviser to Susan Rice on how to characterize the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on Sunday news programs. He advised Rice, then ambassador to the U.N., that her primary goal was to "underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy." The e-mail was redacted when the most-transparent-administration-in-history provided Benghazi documents to Congress earlier, but was found through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Democrats are furious that the House will hold a vote to create a select committee to investigate the administration's response to the attack in Libya that left four Americans dead. They know this won't end well.
Though White House officials say they were operating on the best intelligence available, they were willfully ignoring information that the attack was preplanned by groups with terrorist links, a fact that undermined President Obama's re-election claim that "al-Qaeda is on the run." Cherry-picking intelligence is a big no-no.
It took real effort for the White House to overlook the tsunami of evidence that contradicted its campaign talking points. Before Rice's appearances on Sept. 16, 2012, National Public Radio reported that Libya's president had told NPR that al-Qaeda was responsible for the "precalculated, preplanned attack." Former deputy CIA director Mike Morell testified last month, "Analysts said from the get-go that al-Qaeda was involved."
A former deputy chief of mission in Libya, Gregory Hicks, testified last year his "jaw dropped" when he watched Rice blame the video. Retired general Robert Lovell, on duty at U.S. Africa Command at the time, testified last week, "What we did know ... was that this was a hostile action … a terrorist attack." Last week, Fox News' Bret Baier asked former national security spokesman Tommy Vietor how the administration came up with its video tale. Vietor replied that there were "guys quoted in newspapers saying (the video is why) they were there." So much for operating on the best intelligence.
White House spokesman Jay Carney improbably claimed that the Rhodes advice was not "explicitly" about Benghazi but about protests throughout the Middle East. CNN's Jake Tapper called Carney's comments "dissembling, obfuscating and … insulting." He was being generous. Rice was dispatched to discuss Benghazi, which is why she was grilled about it on every show.
White House officials brought this House investigation on themselves. They could have avoided it by simply telling the truth. Unfortunately, that was too much to ask." ..Kirsten Powers

Yes, FOX has had the good sense to hire Kirsten Powers as a Democrat Consultant and, if you've seen her on FOX, you know she's 'all Democrat'...that's why I particularly thought this was an important piece for us all to read. 

You're NOT crazy for caring about Benghazi, FOX isn't in on any conspiracy.....we're all after THE TRUTH.    Please, let's hope it comes out.  Trey Gowdy is no Darryl Issa.  THANK GOD.

I have a question for you, other than hoping to hear your comments on the above.  That question is this:  

There are many seats on the group who'll be investigating this situation.  Some are saying no Democrats will be wanting to take a seat so it could be all Republicans.   The Democrats could purposefully do that because they're desperate for Americans to continue to believe their ruse that this is all just FOX and CONSPIRACY.  HOWEVER, if NO DEMOCRATS are on that panel, nothing from their side will be entertained.   No one will be there to stand up for the administration.    WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

Z

Leftwing Censorship.... is this still America???

Government officials, reacting to the growing voice of conservative news outlets, especially on the internet, are angling to curtail the media's exemption from federal election laws governing political organizations, a potentially chilling intervention that the chairman of the Federal Election Commission is vowing to fight.

“I think that there are impulses in the government every day to second guess and look into the editorial decisions of conservative publishers,” warned Federal Election Commission Chairman Lee E. Goodman in an interview.
“The right has begun to break the left’s media monopoly, particularly through new media outlets like the internet, and I sense that some on the left are starting to rethink the breadth of the media exemption and internet communications,” he added.  (Z: can someone tell me how many more conservative outlets there are on the internet than liberal?)

Noting the success of sites like the Drudge Report, Goodman said that protecting conservative media, especially those on the internet, “matters to me because I see the future going to the democratization of media largely through the internet. They can compete with the big boys now, and I have seen storm clouds that the second you start to regulate them, there is at least the possibility or indeed proclivity for selective enforcement, so we need to keep the media free and the internet free.”
All media has long benefited from an exemption from FEC rules, thereby allowing outlets to pick favorites in elections and promote them without any limits or disclosure requirements like political action committees.

But Goodman cited several examples where the FEC has considered regulating conservative media, including Sean Hannity's radio show and Citizens United's movie division. Those efforts to lift the media exemption died in split votes at the politically evenly divided board, often with Democrats seeking regulation.

Liberals over the years have also pushed for a change in the Federal Communications Commission's "fairness doctrine" to cut of conservative voices, and retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has delighted Democrats recently with a proposed Constitutional amendment that some say could force the media to stop endorsing candidates or promoting issues.

“The picking and choosing has started to occur,” said Goodman. “There are some in this building that think we can actually regulate” media, added Goodman, a Republican whose chairmanship lasts through December. And if that occurs, he said, “then I am concerned about disparate treatment of conservative media.”
He added, “Truth be told, I want conservative media to have the same exemption as all other media.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.
This makes me think of what a horrid precedent the Rutgers situation with Condi Rice set.   We've all talked about the negativity of the media and insults to the Right.   I guess we were RIGHT all along.

Can we get around this?  Is this HOLDER?  HOW can this be happening IN AMERICA?

Z